Poole is said to have formerly been within the hundred of Hasler. It takes its name from the bay on the north side of which it is situated. It lies on the border of a barren dreary heath, and offers no very pleasant prospect to travellers who have left a more delightful part of the country. Poole is a peninsula adjoining the parish of Canford, by an isthmus or neck of land, and formerly the most considerable port and most populous town in the county.

It stands upon ground three quarters of a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth. There are only three or four principal streets, taking a direction nearly from N. E. to S. W. besides a cross-street, which is parallel with the quay, having some lanes of communication.

In general, the buildings are mean and low, but several handsome houses have lately been erected, particularly at the entrance of the town. The number of houses, according to the returns under the Population Act, appears to be 1029, and 4816 inhabitants.. The principal trade from Poole is to Newfoundland; till within these few years this was very considerable. Its first falling off was at the period of the American war; and afterwards when the conquests of France had closed all the markets in the Mediterranean against us. The present exports to Newfoundland, consist of provisions, nets, cordage, oilcloth, and all sorts of wearing apparel; in short, of commodities of every kind for the supply of that island. Its imports consist principally of cod and salmon, which are afterwards shipped to foreign markets, oil, seal-skins, firs, and cranberries.

In the 23rd of Henry III. a market and fair were granted to be held at Le Pole, but it is not certain whether it was at this place. In the 30th Henry III. the town obtained the grant of a market on Thursday, and two fairs annually, one on the feast of St. Philip and James, and seven succeeding days; and another on All-Soul's day, and seven days succeeding; there is also a small market held on Mondays.

Though the liberties do not extend without Pool-gate, they possess a right in the common of Canford by prescription, and may cut as much heath, turf; and furze, in the waste ground belonging to that manor as they used to do, and may keep any kind and number of cattle.

In the British times we discover no traces of this place, nor in the Roman. Mr. Baxter, indeed, makes it Bolnelaunium as he corrects it, or Bolbelaunium of Ravenas, which he derives from the British Bolnelaunium importing an head, or bay full of water. This agrees very well with the nature of the bay, and the order of Ravenas. There is a Roman road from Winbourn to Poole. The dorsum is plain a little beyond Cogdean Elms, where are two large barrows on the left hand of it; thence it has been traced into a private lane, that ends in the Poole road, near Mr, Hiley's house at Kyrton, near Poole. This may be an argument to prove that the Romans made this spot a convenient landing-place, whence they directed their marches to and from their station at Winbourn, but not that any town was here at that time; and perhaps Bolnelaunium may be only the name of the bay. We find no notice of this place as being of any note, either in the time of the Saxons or their successors the Normans; it is not mentioned in Doomsday Book, being probably then comprised in the survey of Canford, of which it was a member, till made a town and county, and became independent.

It appears afterwards to have met with a variety of fortune. About 1365, 39 Edward III. it was made a garrison for the wars in France, when that Prince claimed that kingdom. Soon after, 42 Edward III. it seems to have fallen into decay; and members were not sent to parliament from that year to 31 Henry VI. Yet by this charter, when he removed the privileges of Melcombe to Poole, it was said to be then well inhabited, and visited by great numbers of people. That prince gave it great encouragement, and granted several privileges, as did his successors Edward IV. and Richard III.

Mr. Camden observes, "That in the last age it was improved from a sedge-plat with a few fishermen's huts, to be a well-frequented market-town, and grew very wealthy, being adorned with fair buildings; and from the time of Richard III. by I know not what ill-destiny, or rather negligence of the townsmen, it has been decaying; so that now the houses, for want of inhabitants, are quite out of repair." During the whole time of the Civil Wars it was a garrison for the Parliament, and very troublesome to the neighbouring country, particularly to Blandford, Winborn, Wareham, and Corfe-Castle. In August, 1642, the treasurer of the county paid fifty pounds towards fortifying the town. It was soon after summoned by the Marquis of Hertford, then at Sherborne, but to no purpose; and was then provided with ordnance and a garrison.

Poole, previous to and long after the Conquest, formed a part of the Manor of Canford, and as parcel of the Duchy of Lancaster belonged to the Lords of that village, viz. the Longespees, the Plantaganets, the Lacys, and the Monteacutes. From the fourteenth of Henry VI. to the time of Charles I. it became possessed by several persons, and at length granted by the latter monarch to the Webb family. Sir John Webb, Bart, is the present possessor. When Poole was made a town and county of itself by Queen Elizabeth, the manor was severed from that of Canford, yet the lord of Canford has a right to hold a court in Poole once a year, and it still pays the ancient fee-farms to the Lord of that manor.

The borough of Poole is very ancient, as appears from William Longespee granting a number of privileges to the burgesses both by sea and land, on payment of seventy marks. The town, however, is indebted to Queen Elizabeth for its most considerable immunities.' By this sovereign it was made a corporate and free town, and formed into a distinct county, appointing its own sheriff in the same manner as the town and county of Southampton. The corporation consists of a mayor, four aldermen, and twenty-eight burgesses.

The mayor is chosen out of the burgesses, on the Friday before St. Matthew's day, and is always a justice of peace; and when his year is expired commences alderman, and is senior bailiff and justice of peace for the year ensuing, He is admiral within the liberties, and was anciently mayor of the staple. The number of aldermen is uncertain, because every mayor, after he has passed the chair, becomes an alderman.

The burgesses are chosen by the mayor, four aldermen, and 18 burgesses. The recorder and town-clerk are chosen, when a vacancy happens, by the burgesses; but must be confirmed by the King; they annually choose, on the same day that the mayor is elected, a senior bailiff, a sheriff, a water-bailiff, two coroners, and four justices of the peace. There is a session held for the town by the mayor four times a year; when any criminal or civil causes are to be tried, one of the judges of the circuit comes hither in his way to Dorchester, and holds the assizes; but civil causes are generally tried at Dorchester or Winchester.

The fee-farm rents are, and have anciently been paid to the Lords of Canford.

The right of election of members of parliament is lodged in the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses, within and without the town, to the number of about 96, and the indenture executed by them and the sheriff, who is returning officer. The freeholders of this town, though a county of itself, claim a right to vote at the election for knights of the shire for this county; but this claim has not been always allowed, and their right remains undetermined.

In the month of June, 1653, a very extraordinary phenomenon was seen in this town : a black cloud kept hanging over the place for about two hours, and at last burst, but instead of common water, the whole was like a shower of blood; and which falling on the leaves of the trees, tinged them in such a manner that they appeared as scarlet, and many being plucked off were sent, as great curiosities, to the learned in London, and other parts of the kingdom Poole Bay falls into the British Channel by a narrow entrance on the east. It contains several islands and mud banks, intersected by channels, which admit the passage of boats and small fishing vessels. The fishermen of Wareham, upon paying a small fine to the lord of Corfe Castle, have a right to fish here. Oysters are taken in great abundance, and sent to the London markets; there are other fish taken in the harbour, among which the plaice is considered particularly excellent. Herrings have been caught in such plenty as to be sold for a penny a dozen.

Poole Harbour extends about four miles from North Haven to Radcliffe Attwell, on the Purbeck shore. The number of ships now belonging to this port is supposed to amount to 250, of a total burthen of not less than 125,000 tons. The trade is chiefly confined to Newfoundland. A court of admiralty, belonging to the port, is held occasionally, the mayor being president.

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POOLE is a municipal borough, market and union town, parish and head of a county court district, and has a station on the Wimborne, Broadstone, Parkstone and Bournemouth branch of the South Western railway, 6 miles south from Wimborne, 9 ½ north-east from Wareham, 12 south-east from Blandford, 5 west from Bournemouth, Hants, 22 east from Dorchester, 30 north-east from Weymouth and 121 from London, in the Eastern division of the county, and forms a petty sessional division, is in the rural deanery of Whitchurch (Poole portion), archdeaconry of Dorset and diocese of Salisbury. By the Municipal Boundary Act the tithings of Longfleet and Parkstone, both in the parish of Canford Magna, and also the parish of Hamworthy, were added to and now form part of the county of the town of Poole. The town was first incorporated in the reign of Henry HI. by a charter granted in 1248, by the famous William de Longespee, then lord of the manor of Canford; this charter was confirmed 45 Edward III. (1371-2) by William de Montacute, and in 12 Henry IV. (1410-11) by Thomas de Montacute, both lords of the same manor and Earls of Salisbury, and was confired and enlarged by Queen Elizabeth in 1559, who also made the borough a county of itself. Under the provisions of the “Municipal Corporations Act, 1835” (5 and 6 William IV. c. 76), the town is divided into two ward's and the Corporation consists of a mayor, six aldermen and eighteen councillors, who also act as the Urban and Port Sanitary Authority. The town and county of Poole, as constituted by the Act of Queen Elizabeth, has a sheriff, elected annually, who has the exclusive execution of all writs and processes within the county and borough, except those issuing from the Court of Record. Poole has a commission of the peace and a court of quarter sessions and returned two members to Parliament in the reign of Edward III., but not afterwards till 31 Henry VI. (1452-3), from that date it regularly returned two members until the passing of the “Representation of the People Act, 1867” (30 and 31 Viet. c. 102) the number was reduced to one, and by “The Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885” (48 and 49 Viet. c. 23) the representation was merged in that of the Eastern division of the county.

The borough is lighted with gas and supplied with water by two companies.

The railway stations here and in the immediate neighbourhood are now as follows:-the old Poole junction is now Hamworthy junction, and the former Poole station is named Hamworthy station. From Broadstone junction, 2 miles from Wimborne and 3 ½ from Longfleet (adjoining Poole), is a line to Poole station in the town and thence continued to West Bournemouth. From Broadsetone junction is a loop line to Bailey’s Gate for Sturminster Marshall. A connecting line between Hamworthy junction and Poole affording through communication between Weymouth, Poole, Bournemouth and London was opened in 1893.

Poole stands on a beautiful inlet of the sea, near the south-eastern extremity of the county of Dorset. The town, which is remarkably clean, is situated on a peninsula jutting into the harbour: it occupies a tract of ground nearly 1 mile long and three quarters of a mile broad: the principal streets are parallel from northeast to south-west and there are many substantial and well-built houses. The equable temperature here renders the town of Poole generally healthy and a desirable residence for those whose physical constitution may require avoidance of the more extreme variations of the heat.

Villa residences have been erected at Parkstone, on the hills, which are clothed with trees of the fir tribe, which afford shelter from the wind and secure an equable climate.

Poole Harbour, more especially when the tide is in, presents much scenic beauty; and the traveller approaching the town from almost any direction, cannot fail to be struck with its picturesque situation: it is remarkable in having two tides: after flowing for six hours it ebbs for an hour and a half and flows again for the same period, making a second high water, and ebbing again for the remaining three hours; this feature is not peculiar to this place, but occurs along the south coast to Bournemouth, and is probably due to its position at the back of the Isle of Wight. The water, nearly surrounding the town, spreads over a surface broken by islands and projecting headlands; the shores, of a diversified character, here rise abruptly, then retire into a low flat, and are in many parts richly wooded; the background is formed by the bold and well-defined outline of the distant hills of the Isle of Purbeck, giving relief to the sombre ruins of Corfe Castle in their front. In 1894 the quay was extended 800 feet at a cost of £15,000, and the whole length now gives a draught of 14 feet at low water spring tides. The island and castle of Branksea form a pleasing termination to one side of the view, whilst the other is bounded by the undulation of the distant hills; the whole combine to produce scenery of a rare distinction and agreeable kind; and as the communication between the harbour is hidden by the overlapping of Branksea Island and the opposite sand-banks, the appearance is that of a large inland lake.

The harbour has been famous from time immemorial for its oyster beds; thousands of barrels of pickled oysters were exported annually, and many of the warehouses on both sides of the harbour are built upon a foundation of oyster shells. In consequence of want of regulation of the fishery the beds had become exhausted, but in 1885 a regulating power over the beds was given by Act of Parliament to the Poole Corporation, and in 1887 200 acres in the Wareham Channel were granted to a local company, and the beds are again productive.

The parish church of St. James is of stone, erected in 1820 in the Tudor style on the site of an ancient building, and is surrounded by a large churchyard: the edifice consists of chancel, nave, aisles with galleries and square western tower with a peal of 8 bells and a clock: the ceiling is groined with rich gilt bosses: the principal entrance is by the west door, through the base of the tower: in the west is the organ and a clock: the galleries are supported by five clustered pillars on each side, of pitch pine coated with plaster: the reading desk and pulpit are of richly carved oak: the walls are all embattled: a handsome eagle lectern was placed in the church in 1887 in memory of Charles Schreiber M.A. who died M.P. for Poole, A. D. 1884: the interior was thoroughly repaired and embellished in 1871 at a cost of £300, raised by voluntary contributions: in 1893 a further sum of £1,000 was expended in reseating the church and erecting a new pulpit: there are sittings for 2,000 persons. The register dates from the year 1558. The living is an impropriate rectory, average tithe rent-charge £222, gross yearly income £349, net £245, in the gift of Lord Wimborne and other trustees, and held since 1868 by the Rev. John Archibald Lawson, surrogate, and chaplain of Poole union and gaol.

St. Paul’s ecclesiastical parish was formed in 1861: the church, near the upper end of the High street, is a small structure in the Grecian style, of white brick with stone dressings, erected in 1833, consisting of chancel, nave, south portico, western gallery and tower at the east end containing one bell: the organ is in the chancel: the cost of erection, including the purchase of land, was about £4,000, the whole defrayed by voluntary contributions : there are 500 sittings, of which 200 are free. The register dates from the year 1833. The living is a vicarage, gross income arising from endowments and pew rents £170, net £166, in the gift of five trustees, and held since 1892 by the Rev. Carey Frederick de Jersey M.A. of Corpus Christi college, Cambridge, who resides at Longfleet.

The Catholic church, West Quay road, erected in 1839 and dedicated to St. Mary, is a building of stone, consisting of chancel and nave, and has about 120 sittings.

The Society of Friends’ Meeting house, Lagland street, erected at the end of the 17th century and enlarged in 1820, has seats for 300 persons.

The Wesleyan chapel, erected in 1879, is in the Early English style, of Purbeck stone with Bath stone facings, comprising nave and transepts, which are divided into three bays and separated by granite columns; a tower of Bath stone unites the front and side elevations at the south angle: the roof and internal fittings are of pitch pine, the building is heated by hot water and well ventilated : it will seat about 1,000 persons.

The Baptist chapel, Hill street, erected in 1805 and restored in 1886, has 400 sittings. The Congregational chapel, Skinner street, built 1777 and renovated 1887, seats 1,150. The Primitive Methodist chapel, North street, erected in 1842 for 250 persons. The Unitarian chapel, Hill street, erected in 1868, has 400 sittings.

A Cemetery was formed in 1854 of 16 acres, at Longfleet, having been presented to the parish of St. James by John Bingley Garland esq. There are two mortuary chapels; it is under the control of a Burial Board of nine members elected by the vestry of St. James. A new cemetery, near Blake Hill lane, Parkstone, was formed in 1893. It is 3 ¼ acres in extent, and is under the control of a burial board of 9 members.

The Guildhall, in the Market place, is a spacious and convenient structure of red brick with stone dressings, erected in 1761, at a cost of £1,500 (presented to the corporation for that purpose, in equal proportions, by Joseph Gulston and Thomas Calcraft esqrs. then representatives of the borough), and comprises a council chamber, a large hall of justice, and retiring rooms for the jury, having on the basement a series of open arcades, occupied only on market day (Thursday). The entrance to the Hall is by a double flight of stone steps at the west end, leading to a portico beneath a pediment. The judicial business of the borough, in the quarter sessions and other courts, is transacted in this hall, and the public meetings of the town are generally held here. The entire building was thoroughly repaired in May, 1874, at a cost of £550. The Hall will hold 600 persons.

The Public Free Library and School of Art was erected in 1887 at the sole expense of John J. Norton esq. at a cost of £2,500, in commemoration of Her Majesty’s Jubilee. It stands at the comer of High street and Mount street, and is a building of Ted brick with stone dressings from designs by Messrs. Lawson and Donkin, of Bournemouth, and is in the Free Classic or “Queen Anne” style, and consists of entrance hall, general reading room, ladies’ reading room, lending and reference libraries. Above is the School of Art with rooms for male and female students. The whole building is fitted with hot water apparatus and necessary offices: it has a library of about 6,000 volumes: the old library, situated near the quay, in a building erected in 1830 by the Hon. W. F. S. Ponsonby, afterwards Lord de Mauley, has now been merged in the above. A wing was added and opened in October, 1889, by J. J. Norton esq. A further wing was added in 1891, also at the expense of J. J. Norton esq. and this consists of gymnasium on the ground floor and above a museum which contains local exhibits of animals, birds, shells and geological specimens and also a loan collection of works of art from the South Kensington Museum.

Poole is the head quarters of No. 6 Battery, 1st Dorsetshire Volunteer Artillery, Southern Division, Royal Artillery, and the D Company 1st Volunteer Battalion Dorsetshire Regiment.

The market day is Thursday. Two fairs are held in the town-that of St. Philip and St. James commencing on the first of May, and All Saints on November 2nd; each continues eight days.

Shipbuilding is carried on, one yard having a patent slip capable of hauling up vessels of 200 tons and another added in 1892 capable of hauling up vessels of over 400 tons. Some very fast yachts have been built here. Ships of considerable tonnage can lie afloat at low water close to the quay. Cordage, netting, sail-cloth, and other articles requisite for the fitting out of shipping, are largely made here. The Poole Oyster Fishery Co. Limited have beds in Poole harbour.

Clay has for a long period been shipped hence for the Staffordshire potteries; potteries have also sprung up here. The corn, flour and timber trades are largely carried on; an extensive corn mill is at present in operation, which is the most complete of its kind.

The Cornelia Hospital, formerly in West street, but removed in 1891 to Market street, was established at the beginning of the year 1889, at the sole expense of Lady Wimborne, and contains 29 beds. Patients are admitted and kept in the hospital upon the payment of 3s. 6d. per week for adults, and 2s. 6d. for children; 184 patients were treated during the year 1893. The charities amount to about £224 yearly.

There is a Friendly Societies’ Medical Association here in connection with the registered friendly societies of the town and neighbourhood. A large and suitable building was erected by the association in 1889 near the Public Free Library in Mount street for the residence of the senior medical officer with surgery, dispensary, consulting rooms, committee room &c. attached.

The almshouses at Hunger Hill, founded by George Garland, in 1814, consist of 12 tenements and have a small endowment. Rogers’ Almshouses, in West street, were founded by Robert Rogers in 1604, and are for six poor persons or couples, each of whom receives 1s. per week. The funds have since been slightly augmented from other sources. The almshouses in Church street, for 12 poor persons, were supposed to have been founded in the 15th century, but not endowed. In 1866 Isaac Steele left £100, the dividend to be applied to the benefit of the occupants of these almshouses.

There are three public parks or pleasure grounds within the borough of Poole, viz. one adjoining the town and called the town park, the other two are locally in Parkstone. The Poole Park consists of forty acres of land, a salt water lake of 60 acres, and a fresh water lake of two acres. Lord Wimborne in 1885 gave 26 acres of this land to the inhabitants, to be laid out and kept as pleasure grounds in perpetuity, and in 1887 the Town Council obtained by purchase and exchange, 14 acres additional land, and having borrowed £8,500, completed the park at the close of 1889; the buildings erected thereon are two gardeners’ lodges, cricket pavilion, hand stand and shelters: the grounds are tastefully laid out and planted with choice trees, shrubs and flowers: the park has five main entrances: the salt water bay is beautifully arranged for boating and is very safe, having an average depth of three feet. The whole of the works were designed and carried out by Mr. John Elford M.S. A. borough surveyor; the gardens were laid out from designs by Messrs. Veitch and Son, Exeter, who also supplied the shrubs and plants.

The Parkstone park is in the centre of Parkstone, a rising parish within the borough, and contains a little over three acres, valued at £1,200, and was exchanged for other lands belonging to the borough, and laid out at the public expense at a cost of £560; it contains some very fine trees, and has a centre walk or promenade, with a large terra-cotta fountain, the basin of which is stocked with gold and silver fish: this was also designed and carried out by Mr. John Elford, borough surveyor.

The Constitution Hill grounds of 6 ½ acres have been the property of the Town Council for many years and are left in their natural state, some parts being adorned with pine trees, while a part of the hill and the sloping sides are covered with heather: from the summit of the hill splendid views are obtained of Poole harbour, the English channel, Branksea Island, Corfe Castle, Wareham, Holes Bay, Lytchett, &c.

The neighbourhood of Poole abounds in remains of British antiquities. Early earthworks and sepulchral barrows are found on the hills. In the Isle of Purbeck, one hour’s sail from the quay, is the far-famed Agglestone, a Druidical sacrificial stone computed to weigh 400 tons, standing on a mound of earth.

Lord Wimborne, lord of the manor and Capt. Kenneth Robert Balfour are the sole landowners.

The population of the municipal borough in 1891 was 14,765, viz.-St. James’ (Poole) parish, 7,890; Hamworthy parish, 673; Longfleet, 2,750; and Parkstone parish, 4,125. The population of the wards in 1891 was:-North West, 7,694, and South East, 7,789. The population of St. James’ ecclesiastical parish in 1891 was 4,423, and of St. Paul, 3,467. The area of the parish of St. James is 153 acres of land and 327 of foreshore; rateable value, £22,233. It was found by inquisition, 13th Charles II. that the waste and oozy grounds in the harbour contained by measurement 8,026 acres.

Hamworthy, Longfleet and Parkstone, suburbs of Poole.

Poole Union

Board day, every alternate Thursday, at the union house. The union comprises the following parishes:-Canford Magna, Hamworthy, Kinson, Longfleet, Lytchett Matravers, Lytchett Minster, Parkstone & St. James’ (Poole). The population in 1891 was 25,831; rateable value, £117.443.

Places of Worship, with times of services

St. James’s Church, Rev.John Archibald Lawson, rector; 11 a.m.,. 3 & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7 p.m.

St. Paul’s Church, High street, Rev. Carey Frederick de Jersey M.A. vicar; 11 a.m.,. & 6.30p.m.; Thur. 7.30 p.m.

St. Mary’s (Catholic), West Quay road, Rev. Augustin Morford; holy communion, 8.30 a.m.; mass, 11 a.m.; catechism & rosary, 3, & mass & vespers or compline, sermon & benediction, 6.30 p.m.; holy days, holy communion 8.30 & mass 9 a.m.,. & rosary & benediction, 7.30 p.m.; daily mass, 8.30 a.m.; Wed. rosary & benediction, 7.30 a.m.; Fri stations of the cross, 7.30 p.m.; sat. confessions, 6 p.m.

Society of Friends, Lagland street; 11.30 a.m., Baptist, Hill street, Rev. R. Walker; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Thur. 7 p.m. Congregational, Skinner street, Eev. Enoch Hall F.B.H.S. ; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, North street, Rev. Charles Lomas; 10.30 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; Wed. 7.30 p.m. Unitarian, Hill street, Rev. Edwin John Wilkins; 11 a.m.

& 6.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, High street, Rev. Arthur Wilkinson & Rev. William H. Clymo; 11 a.m. & 6,30 p.m.; Tues. & Thur. 7 p.m.

Seamen’s Mission, Quay, Rev. John Archibald Lawson, hon. chaplain; James Moore, scripture reader; Sun. 6.30 p.m.

Salvation Army Barracks, Fish street; 11 a.m. 3.30 & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 8 p.m.

Mount Street Hall (Mission), 6.30 p.m.

Schools

National, Church street (girls & infants), for 300 children; average attendance, 121 girls & 126 infants.

National, Perry gardens (boys), for 280 children; average attendance, 193.

British, Skinner street (boys & girls); the boys’ school was built in 1880, for 300 children; the girls school was built in 1777, for 152 children; average attendance, 238 boys & 202 girls.

British, Perry gardens (infants), built in 1894 for 250 children; average attendance, 180.

Catholic, West Quay road, built in 1850, for 120 children ; average attendance, 95.